Hugh Masekela remains an important figure in the history of music in SouthAfrica.
He is fondly remembered as the father of South African jazz.
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The singer performs on stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans. Photo: @David Redfern/RedfernsSource: Getty Images
Hugh Masekela developed an interest inmusicin his childhood years.
He played the piano and sang whenever there was a chance.
He got his first trumpet in his early teens.
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Hugh Ramapolo Masekela was a multi-talented music artist.
He composed and sang hit songs.
Besides, he was a cornetist, trumpeter, and flugelhornist.
The jazz musician performs onstage at Central Park SummerStage, New York, New York. Photo: @Jack Vartoogian/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
How old was Hugh Masekela when he died?
His Zodiac sign was Aries.
Where was Hugh Masekela from?
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The musician was from South Africa.
Family background
Thetrumpeter’s fatherwas Thomas Selena Masekela, a sculptor and health inspector.
His mother, Pauline Bowers, was a social worker and his father’s second wife.
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Barbara, his younger sister, is anANCactivist, poet, and educator.
Growing up, Hugh sang a lot.
He also played the piano.
The musician poses for a portrait in 1968 in New York City, New York. Photo: @Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
When he was 14, he watched the 1950 filmYoung Man with a Horn.
He was so fascinated by Kirk Douglas' role in the movie that he took up playing the trumpet.
He got his first trumpet from Archbishop Trevor Huddleston’s store.
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Educational background
The trumpeter joined St. Peter’s Secondary School when he was 12.
He was a naughty student who was often in trouble.
Naughty students were often reported to Archbishop Trevor Huddleston.
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When he got his first trumpet, he promised Archbishop Trevor to stop being naughty.
The students formed the Huddleston Jazz Band, the country’s first youth orchestra.
In 1956, Hugh joined Alfred Herbert’s African Jazz Revue.
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He was a student at Manhattan School of Music from 1960 to 1964, where he studied classical trumpet.
His aim was to create music to promote and spread political change in the country.
His tracks were about his country’s struggles, joys, and sorrows.
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They mainly addressed apartheid, slavery, and government-related issues.
Miriam Makeba and Nathan Mdledle led the orchestr.King Kongwas a blockbuster theatrical success.
Towards the end of 1959, the musician and several others formed Jazz Epistles.
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The group was the first African jazz group to record a long play album.
The group performed for audiences in Johannesburg andCape Townuntil early 1960.
On 21st March 1960, South Africa witnessed the Sharpeville massacre.
The musician plays fluegelhorn as he performs onstage at the ‘Twenty Years of Freedom’ concert at Carnegie Hall, New York. Photo: @Jack Vartoogian/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Sixty-nine protestors were shot dead on the fateful day, leading to increased brutality of the Apartheid state.
This made him leave the country with the aid of Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, Yehudi Menuhin and John Dankworth.
He first went to London, United Kingdom.
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These includedUp, Up and Awayin 1967, andGrazing in the Grassin 1968.
In 1967, he appeared at the Monterey Pop Festival.
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He was later featured in the filmMonterey Pop.
Hugh Masekela’sGrazing in the Grasswas one of his best tracks.
In 1974, he collaborated with Stewart Levine to organise the Zaire 74 music festival in Kinshasa.
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Soon, he became a household name in jazz ensembles.
He made special appearances inSo You Want to Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll StarandLady Friendby the Byrds.
It also became an anthem for the movement to free Nelson Mandela.
In his career, he collaborated with various artists from West and Central African musicians.
He continued working closely with other South African artists upon his return to the country.
These included Miriam Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Ray Phiri.
It was compiled and produced by Stewart Levine.
Hugh Masekela’sCoal Trainwas part of theStimelaalbum.
The same year, Hugh Masekela’sHopewas released.
In 1998, he releasedBlack to the Future.
Hugh Masekela’sChileshewas one of the top tracks from the album.
- In 2003, he was featured in the documentaryAmandla!
A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony.
The following year, he released his autobiography calledStill Grazing: The Musical Journey of Hugh Masekela.
In 2010, he was featured inUmlando-Through My Father’s Eyes,a show that starred his son.
In 2016, he reunited with Jazz Epistles to mark the 40the anniversary of the June 1976 youth demonstrations.
The singerreleased multiple albumsin his career that spanned over five decades.
Some of his albums are listed below.
Who is Getmore Sithole?
What is Hugh Masekela’s net worth?
At the time of his demise, the singer had anet worthof $1.5 million.
Most of his wealth was accumulated from his music career.
Who was Hugh Masekela’s wife?
From 1964 to 1966, themusician was marriedto activist and singer Miriam Makeba.
He later married several other women.
He was married to Chris Calloway, Jabu Mbatha, and Elinam Cofie.
In the last few years preceding his demise, he lived with dancer Nomsa Manaka.
Selema’s mother is Jessie Marie Lapierre, a woman of Haitian descent.
Who is Anzel Stofberg?
Hugh took his son to the places he grew up.
He also had a daughter named Pula Twala.
Her mother is Motshidisi Jennifer Ndamse.
Why was Hugh Masekela exiled from South Africa?
What happened to Hugh Masekela?
The trumpeter was diagnosed withprostate cancerin 2008.
He battled with the disease for about a decade.
He took his last breath on 23rd January 2018, surrounded by his family.
How tall was Hugh Masekela?
The musician was 5 2 or 158 centimetres tall.
He had black eyes and hair.
Trivia
Who is Sandile Mahlangu?
He was a singer, cornetist, trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer known for his anti-apartheid songs.
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He went to Lutheran Primary School in Wynberg and Milton High School.
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Source: Briefly News
Lynn KandieLynn Kandie is a reporter with 5 years of experience in writing.
Before joining the team in 2018, Lynn wrote for Kenyan media platforms and several other websites.
She graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2019 with honours after pursuing a BSc.
She is currently studying for a Master’s degree in the same field.
Lynn specialises in writing celebrity biographies, listicles and teasers for popular TV shows.
She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelors degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University.
Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle.
In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques.
She received the Writer of the Year awards in 2023 and 2024.
In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course.
Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
